Associated Press stories, Page 256
Colorado artist denies trying to distort Trump in portrait
A Colorado artist denies trying to distort Donald Trump’s likeness in a portrait that hung until recently in the state Capitol and says the president’s criticisms are hurting her business. She also disputed that the work drew a lot of complaints before Trump weighed in. Trump called the portrait by...
Hollywood lands a much-needed box office hit with ‘A Minecraft Movie’
Hollywood needed “A Minecraft Movie” to be a hit, and it delivered in its opening weekend, significantly narrowing this year’s box office deficit. No one guessed just how big it would be. In its first few days in theaters, the movie earned a staggering $157 million in ticket sales from...
Rising rivers threaten South and Midwest after barrage of rain, tornadoes
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rivers rose and flooding worsened Sunday across the U.S. South and Midwest, threatening communities already waterlogged and badly damaged by days of heavy rain and wind that killed at least 18 people. From Texas to Ohio, utilities scrambled to shut off power and gas, while cities closed...
Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record by scoring his 895thVideo
NEW YORK — Alex Ovechkin fired just about the perfect version of his signature one-timer that has defined his remarkable career. When the puck hit the net, it made him the top goal scorer in NHL history. Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal Sunday in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 loss...
No state has ended personal income taxes since 1980, but Mississippi and Kentucky may change that
About 45 years have passed since a U.S. state last eliminated its income tax on wages and salaries. But with recent actions in Mississippi and Kentucky, two states now are on a path to do so, if their economies keep growing. The push to zero out the income tax is...
Pope makes surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square, 2 weeks after leaving hospital
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter’s Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since leaving t he hospital two weeks ago after a life-threatening bout with pneumonia. The pontiff...
RFK Jr. visits epicenter of Texas measles outbreak after death of 2nd child who was infected
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the epicenter of Texas’ still-growing measles outbreak on Sunday, the same day a funeral was held for a second young child who was not vaccinated and died from a measles-related illness. Kennedy said in a social media post that...
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 32, mostly women and children
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 32 people, including over a dozen women and children, local health officials said Sunday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump about the war. Israel last...
Former German president warns of far right at 80th anniversary of Buchenwald liberation
VIENNA — Germany marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis’ Buchenwald concentration camp on Sunday with warnings against “radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right” The governor of the state of Thuringia, Mario Voigt, and former German President Christian Wulff spoke at a ceremony in the...
Houston rallies to beat Duke in the Final Four, advances to face Florida for the NCAA title
SAN ANTONIO — Houston’s suffocating defense wiped away a 14-point deficit over the final eight minutes and erased Cooper Flagg and Duke’s title hopes Saturday in a 70-67 stunner over the Blue Devils at the Final Four. Duke made a grand total of one field goal over the last 10...
Wayne Gretzky has been helping Alex Ovechkin long before this record goal chaseVideo
WASHINGTON — A little more than three decades before Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record, the “Great One” had his own chase. Gretzky was in hot pursuit of Gordie Howe’s record in the spring of 1994. Howe was there when Gretzky tied and passed him. His...
Brian Harman survives wind, leads Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Brian Harman survived 30 mph wind by playing the final 13 holes without a bogey, giving him an even-par 72 and a three-shot lead in a Valero Texas Open so difficult that only six players managed to break par. Harman had his chance to join them until...
Dawn Staley has South Carolina 1 win away from 3rd title in 4 years
TAMPA, Fla. — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are one win away from joining an elite group of programs in women’s basketball history with a third national championship in four seasons. Only two other schools have accomplished that feat: UConn and Tennessee. “It’s hard to break into what Pat Summitt...
Walter Clayton scores 34, Florida beats Auburn in Final Four
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points, and Florida beat SEC rival Auburn, 79-73, in the Final Four on Saturday night, sending the Gators to the national championship game for the first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007. The All-America guard for the Gators (35-4) had a driving layup...
Denny Hamlin looks for 5th win at Darlington Raceway
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Denny Hamlin is continually questioning his confidence as he navigates his latest try for a NASCAR Cup Series title. Hamlin’s win last week at Martinsville has him in the field of 16 when the playoffs come around in about five months. And he’s prepping to run the...
Phone footage appears to contradict Israel’s account in troops’ killing of 15 Palestinian medics
UNITED NATIONS — Phone video from one of 15 Palestinian medics killed by Israeli forces last month appears to contradict Israeli claims that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire on them in southern Gaza. The footage shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defense...
Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Sue Bird highlight Basketball Hall of Fame class
Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are going into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year, not once but twice. And LeBron James and Chris Paul are part of the group that’s headed to the Hall as well, even before their playing careers end. Anthony and Howard were announced Saturday...
Death toll in Russian missile strike in central Ukraine reaches 18
KYIV, Ukraine — The death toll from a Russian missile strike in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has risen to 18, including nine children, regional Governor Serhii Lysak said Saturday. A further 72 people were injured in Friday’s attack, the youngest a 3-month-old. About half of them remained...
Jaguar, Land Rover maker pauses shipments to U.S. as it develops post-tariff plans
LONDON — The maker of Jaguar and Land Rover cars is pausing shipments to the U.S. as Britain’s struggling auto industry begins to respond to the 25% tax on vehicle imports imposed by President Donald Trump. Jaguar Land Rover Automotive, one of Britain’s biggest carmakers, said Saturday that the pause...
Trump goes all in with bet that the heavy price of tariffs will pay off for Americans
WASHINGTON — Not even 24 hours after his party lost a key Wisconsin race and underperformed in Florida, President Donald Trump followed the playbook that has defined his political career: He doubled down. Trump’s move on Wednesday to place stiff new tariffs on imports from nearly all U.S. trading partners...
Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd help UConn blow out UCLA in Final Four as Paige Bueckers moves 1 win from elusive title
TAMPA, Fla. — Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn’t even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Strong finished...
Brian Harman builds 4-shot lead at Texas OpenVideo
SAN ANTONIO — Brian Harman found the range with his iron shots and converted eight birdie putts Friday, none outside 12 feet, for a 6-under-par 66 that gave him a four-shot lead over Keith Mitchell going into the weekend at the Valero Texas Open. Harman has his first 36-hole lead...
Ovechkin ties Gretzky’s record with his 894th goal
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record by scoring the 894th of his career. Ovechkin scored his second goal of the Washington Capitals’ game Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks on the power play with 13:46 left in the third period. And he did so with Gretzky...
Defending national champion South Carolina returns to title game with 74-57 rout of TexasVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Defending national champion South Carolina left no doubt it would return to the title game, getting 14 points from Te-Hina Paopao and overwhelming Texas, 74-57, on Friday night in the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks are a win away from becoming the first...
IRS plans to cut up to 25% of staff, starting with closing its civil rights office, AP sources say
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The IRS plans to cut as many as 20,000 staffers — up to 25% of the workforce — as part of layoffs that began Friday, two people familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. The job cuts will begin with the IRS Office of...
